Machine for treating paper.



0. W. MEARS.

MACHINE FOR TREATING PAPER.

APPLIUATION FILED FEB. 23, 1912.

PatentedMay 20, 1913.

3 SHEETFSHEET l.

k l x x h a I I w 'llllz WIT r fi:

0. W. MEARS. v MACHINE FOR TREATING PAPER. APPLICATION FILED IEB.23, 1912.

Patented May 20, 1913..

3 SHEETSSEBET 2.

0. W. MEARS. MAGHINE FOR TREATING PAPER.

I I APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, 1912. Q I 1,062, 1. (.181.- 'Pafiented May 20, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

'"UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

CHAI tLES W. MEARS, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MACHINE FORTREATING PAPER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented lay 20, 1,913. Application filed=February 23, 1912. Serial No. 679,359.

Treating Paper, of which the following is' a full, clear, and exact description, reter ence being had to the accompanying drawings. Q

This invention relates to machines for bending or flexing sheets of paper for the purpose of producing definite bending lines or hinges, and more especially to machines in which a multiplicity of sheets, assembled to form one or more signatures, for instance, are simultaneously bent or flexed. The machine shown herein is ofthe' type shown in my Patent No. 1,004,181, issued September Among the general objects of my invention are the production of a machine which "is extremely efficient- 1n operation 'forthe purposes above set forth, which is particu-.

larly adaptable for a power-drive, and which is adapted to automatically discharge the hinged sheetsv after the flexing operation.

. With the foregoing objects in view, the

invention may he described further as consisting of the combinations of elements embodied in the claims hereto annexed; and

illustrated in the drawings forming' part. I

' a pair ofjaws or clamping members rotahereof, wherein Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. .2- a front elevation, and Fig. 3 a plan view of the aforesaid machine;

Fig. han enlarged vertical sectional view through said machine; Fig. 5 a sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 5-5 of- Fig. at, certain-0f the clutch parts i being shown in section; Figs. 0 and 7, sec-. 'tional details correspondmg to the hnes.

(. )--*6 and '7 --T of Figs. 4t and 2 respectively; Fig. 8 detail in elevation of the clutch mechanism by which the machine maybe supported by the g'age, and Fig. 11 an enlarged detail ,view sliowing the manner in which the hingesiire formed in each batch of leaves or s1 natures flexed or bent by the aforesaid mac ine.

Describing the various parts herein by reference characters, 1 represents generally a pair of vertical side frames connected by a transverse frame 2 intermediate of the top and bottom and a transverse, slightly inclined plate 3 at the top, forming a platform. Each vertical side frameis provided,

near the top and at the front portion thereof, with a bearing 4 in which there is mount ed a shaft 5, each frame being provided with aset screw G'adapted to extend through the bearing and clamp the" shaft in any desired position; The shaft 5 is provided, near each end thereof, which aneccent-rioi', and on this eccentric there is mounted a substan tially U-shaped yoke comprising the substantially vertical supporting arms 8 and'a' bottom transversely extendingbar 9, the bar 9 forming a gage for supporting the bottom ends of the leaves prior ;to. the clamping and flexing-operations. A spring 10 connected to the yoke, preferably near the bot tom, and to one of the vertical frames l, resists the forward movement of the bottom of the yoke and normallyholds the projec tions9 at the bottom of the gage bar 9 in "contact with the stop-screws 11, which'are shown as threaded into members projecting from theside frames and which will be described more particularly hereinafter. I provide a combination chute and clamp for the'paper until 'theend of the flexing operation, said chute consisting generally of tably supported onthe-shaft 5. One of these jaws or clamping members is substantially U-shaped in section and'comprises a pair of side plates-12 connected by a front plate 13-,

the side plates being pivoted l pon the shaft 5 by means cf journals 14,. he other jaw or clamping member 15' is also pivotally supported'up o'nthe shaft 5 by means of hubs or journals l6(see Figs. 2 and 8) The constructionof the parts 12 to16, inclusive, m .vides a downwardly extending chute having an enlarged hopper like opening at the top. said hopper-like opening being located adjacent to the platform 3 on which ithepaper to be treated may be conveniently j'stacked.

1? denotes asha'ft ,which'is 'j oiirnaled in the frames 1 and isprovided scene end with a drive' pulley 18 and at its other, end with a crank arm 19. '20 denotes'a link which is connected to the crank ar'm 1.9 atone end and. to the front jaw"or .clamping. member of the chute at its other'end, suchcotinec- .ti on beingcom-'eniently made through a pin connecting the plate to the arm. 28 denotes a pair of screws which are adjustably mounted in the transverse plate 2, each screw, hearing at its front end against a plunger 29 mounted in, a tubular guide 30 into which the front end of the screw 28 projects, the tubular guide being carried by. and preferably formed integrally with the frame 2. Each plunger 29 has an abutment 31 near its front end against which the rear end of a helical spring 32 is adapted to bear, the front ends of. said springs surrounding projections 33 carried by the plate 14 and bearing against said plate, whereby the plate l5-is pressed forwardly or toward its cooperating plate 13.-

Reference has been made to the projec-.

tions, carried by the frames 1, which support the screws 11. These projections are shown at 34 and are conveniently formed as brackets projecting forwardly and laterally from each of the Vertical frames 1. Each bracket is provided with a barrel 35 (see Fig. 7) in which there is mounted a bolt having a reduced body 36, projecting through the lower end of the barrel and having a nut 37 thereon, and an enlarged portion 38 within said. barrel forming an abutment for the upper end of a spring 39. This spring surrounds I the reduced portion of the bolt, bears at its lower end against the bottom of the barrel and at its upper end against the abutment formed by the enlargement 38. The spring the hub.

pressed bolts carry at their upper ends a roller 40. This roller, it will be observed, is located in such position that, when the clamp comprising the parts 12 to 16, in-

' elusive, is oscillated through the rotation of the shaft 17, the lower end of this clamp will swing across and just clear the roller. As will appear more particularly from 4, the lower ends of the clamping plates 13 and 15 are beveled reversely from the. opposed faces thereof, as shown at 13* and 15, and allowthe projecting ends of the plies or. sheets to be flexedor bent at an'angle at least as great as 90 degrees with respect. to the bodies of the plies or sheets.

. The hub 41 of the pulley 18 is provided ivith a plurality of shoulders 42 connected by inclines 42, providing in efiect a series of ratchet teeth projecting inwardly from 43 denotes a collar which is keyed upon the shaft 17 and is provided with a iongitudinal bore extending inwardly from the outer surface thereof; Within this borethere is mounted a plunger it, said plunger being provided with a pin 45 projecting through a slot 46in the collar 43. outer end of this plunger is beveled, as shown at 47, and is adapted to be thrust out into the path ofthe shoulders il by means of the spring 48.

49 and 50 denote a pair of lugs projecting from the side frame 1 and supporting a pin 51 to which there is pivoted a finger 52. The outer end of the finger 52 is provided with an inclined surface 53, which is adapted to engage the pin 45 and move said pin and the plunger 44 inwardly.

54 denotes a rod which is pivotally con nected at one end to the finger 52 and at its other end to a treadle lever 55, said lever being normally held elevated by means of a.

spring 56 connected thereto and to any convenient part of the machine, as the bracket 34. The spring 56 thus normally holds the finger 52 in such position that the inclined surface 53 is in the path of the pin 45, and

the pin 57 carried by the lugs 49 and 50 is adapted to engage a shoulder 58 on the finger 52 and limit the extent of the movement of said finger towardthe collar 43 by the spring 56. In order to protect the finger 152 against the thrust of the pin 45, one of The the lugs is extended a sufficient distance to form a backing or support for the outer portion of the finger.

WVhile the springs 32 tend to push the clamping plate or jaw 15f0rwardly, the amount of forward movement of this jaw or plate will be limited. In the embodiment shown herein, this limitation is effected by means of a screw 59 which is threaded into a bracket 60 projecting rearwardly from the plate 15 and engaging at its front end a fired pro ection or bracket 61 carried by one of the side frames 1.

With the parts arranged as described and illustrated herein, the operation will be as follows: The sheets 'of paper'to be-treated will be supported in any convenient posi tion, as on the platform lVhen the machine is inactive (when the pulley 18 is disconnected from the shaft 17), the parts will be in the position shown in Fig. 4; that is, with the gage bar 9 located below the bottom of the clamping plates 13 and 15 and said plates separated at their bottom a. sufiicient distance to permit of the easy insertion of the desired number of sheets or leaves 62 therebetween. The amount of the opening between the bottom of these clamping plates may be varied as desired by merely adjusting the screw 59. The gage bar 9 is provided with a substantially V- shaped groove 9 the apex of this groove be-' ing located below the center of the space between the lower ends of the clamping plates 13 and 15. The leaves being in position, the

lit)

treadle lever 55 is depressed against the action of the spring 56, which results in withdrawingthe finger 52 fromthe path of; the

pin 45, whereupon the plunger 44 is thrust out into. the path of the ratchet teeth carried by the hub 41. The plunger being'engaged by the first ratchet teeth, the rotation of the pulley causes a revolution of the shaft l7,

and this revolution of the shaft moves the plate l3 ltoward the plate 15, clamps the paper between the plates, and rocks or oscillate! thecombined clamp and chute across the roller 40, through-the crank 19 and arm and the paper being neither clamped between the plates 13 andl5 nor supported by the gage-bar, is discharged by gravity from the chute. I

Attention has been invited heretofore to the fact that the cross-bar or arm 9 forms a gage todetermine the amount'of projection of the lower ends of the sheets 62 beyond the clamping-plates 13 and 15, and that the upper surface of this arm or cross-bar is V-shaped; The purpose of this construction will be apparent from Figs. 10 and 1 1. In Fig. 10, it will be seen that this manner of supporting the lot or ends of the sheets or plies62 causes the lower ends to project a distance which,- with single or unfolded sheets increases from the sides toward the inner or center plies or sheets. When the lower ends of the sheets or plies are alincd, as shown in Fig. 1], the distance of the hinges or bending lines (13 from the back of the group or signature increases progressively from the sides of the group of leaves or signature toward the center of the, same,

. and this arrangement of the hinges greatly facilitating the fiat opening of the leayes when bound into a book. In the case of signatures, the gage accurately centers these signatures with respect to the clamping device and, the gage being ad ustable, this 1nsures absolute accuracy in the distance be i tween the gage and the clamping device.

Reference has been made tothe eccentrics 7. The purpose-of these isto, enablethe i gage bar or cross arm,9 to ,be adjusted'toward and from the lower ends of the clamping members to vary the amount of projection of the sheets or plies ofpapeia. This adins'tment can readily be made bya. spanner wrench applied to the apertures 64 in the eccentrics. By rotating these eccentrics,

"the distance of the bar from the, ends of the clamping members may be varied.

, .While the machine disclosed herein, is

shown as one to which the paper is supplied by, an operator and from which the hinged paper is discharged without reference to any subsequent treatment, it is contemplated that such machine may be used in connection with printing machines, folding machines and gathering machines and, generally wherever it may be deemed advisable or expedient to employ the same. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. 'In a machine of the character set forth,

the combination of a cl amping'device com;

prising a pair of members adaptedsto receive pt the paper, and meansfor reciprocating one. of said devices with referenceto the other.

2. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a pair of clamping members arranged to form a downwardly extending chute therebetween and to clamp a plurality of plies or sheets of paper with their ends prpjecting therebelow, a gage located beneaththe lowerends of said clamp- ,ing members, a device forengaging the pro-- jccting ends of the paper to iiex the same.

ineansfor ipciprocating'r'me of said devices with respect to the other to flex the project ing-rnds ofihe sheets or plies of paper, means for separating said clamping members, and means for moving the gage out of operative relation to said members.

i 3. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a. pair of downwardly directed clamping members arranged to clamp a plurality of plies or sheets of paper with their ends projecting therebelow, a device for engaging the projecting ends of the paper to flex the same, means for reciproca ting one of said deviceswith respect to the other to flex the projecting ends of the sheets or plies ofpa per, and means for separating said clamping members.

4-. v In a machine of the characgcrset forth,

' clamping members arranged to form a chute and to blamp a plurality of sheets or plies'of paper with their ends projecting, a

gage below the lower 'ends of said 'clam'p-- the combination of a pair of members adapted to clamp a plurality of sheets or plie's of paper therebetween with their ends projecting, a spring tending to force one of said members toward the other, meansfor limiting the movement of the former member by the spring, a device for enga ing the projecting ends of the paper, an means connected with the second clamping memher for moving both members across said device.

In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a pair of members adapted to'clamp a plurality of sheets or plies of paper therebetween with their ends projecting, means tending to force one of said members toward the other, means for limiting the movement of the former memher, a device for engaging the projecting ends of the paper, and means connected with the second clamping member for mov ing both members across said device.

- 7. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a pair of pivotally sup ported clamping members arranged to form a downwardly directed chute, one or more springs arranged to force one of said mem bers toward the other, a shaft, aconnection between said shaft and the second meifiber for reciprocating the lower ends of both.

members, a paper-engaging device cotiperating with the lower ends of saidmembers, and stops arranged to limit the movement f the first'member toward the second memer. v 8. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a pair of downwardly extending clamping members arranged to form a chute therebetween, a shaft on which the ripper portions of said members are pivoted, a yoke comprising a gage bar 'locatedbelow the lower ends of the clamping members and a pair of arms, a pair of eccentrics on said shaft on which said arms are mounted, a spring forcing one of said members toward the other, means connected with the second member for reciprocating both members, a paper flexing device in operative relatmn to the lower ends of said members, a spring ti 1 nected to said yoke, a stop adapted to be engaged y i yoke. means operative through the reciprocation of said members @or moving the gage plate out of operative relation to the lower ends of said members, and means for rotarily adjusting said :Shaft.

: 9. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a clamping device comprising a pair of downwardly extending clamping members, a paperfiexing device in operative relation to the lower ends of said members, means for moving one of said devices across the other, and means for discharging the paper by gravity from between said members.

10. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a-pair of clamping members, a gage adjacent'to said membersadapted to limit the projection of the ends of the sheets or plies of paper beyond said members, a device adapted to be engaged the projecting ends of the sheets or plies of paper to flex the same, a shaft,

a connection between said shaft and said clamping members for moving the latter across the said paper flexing device, means including said shaft for separating said members, and means including said shaft for moving the gage from operative r'ela tion to said members.

11. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a shaft, a pair ofclamping members mounted on said shaft and depending therefrom, a pair of eccentricson said shaft, a yoke-comprising a gage'bar extending across the lower ends of the clamping members and arms mounted on said eccentrics and supporting said bar, a paper flexing device in operative relation to the lower ends of the said clamping "members, means for moving the clamping members across said device, and means whereby said shaft may be rotated.

12. In a machine of the character set 'forth, the combination (ifa pair of clamping members, a. pair of eccentrics, a yoke comprising a gage bar extending across the ends of the clamping members and having arms mounted. on said eccentrics, a paper flexing device in operative relation to the ends of the said clamping members, means for moving the clamping members across said device, and means whereby said eccentries may be rotated.

13. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a frame, a shaft mounted therein, a pair of clamping members pivotally supported near their upper inga chute, a yoke comprising a gage bar and pivotally supported arms, a spring connected. to the frame and tending to force the lower end of the yoke inwardly or toward the frame, a stop limiting the movement of the yoke, a paper flexing device, a crank carried by said shaft, a link connectends and projectingdownwardly and formed to said crank and to the clamping memher-remote from the shaft, a spring forcing bers pivotally supported near their upper ends and projecting downwardly and form ing a chute, a yoke comprising a gage bar and pivotally supported arms, a spring tending to force the gage bar from beneath the clamping members, a paper flexing de- Vice in operative relation to said members, means connecting the shaft and the clamping members toreciprocme the same, means connecting theyoke and the shaft during part only of the rotation of the shaft, and means for separating the clamping members When the shaft and yoke are disconnected.

15.'In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a pair of clampmember, means limiting ing members, means pivotally supporting said members, a shaft, a pulley thereon, means for driving said pulley, means for connectingthe pulley to the shaft to recip rocate the clamping members, and a paper flexing device across 'Which said clamping members may reciprocate;

16. In a machine of the character set 1 forth, the combination of a pair ofclamp ing members, means pivotally supporting said members, a shaft, a pulley thereon, means for drlvlng said pulley, means for connecting the pulley to the shaft-to re my signature in the presence of two it-- IIGSSES.

CHARLES lVIEAR-S; Witnesses J. B. BRENNAN B. Wns'r. 

